How To Speak English Fluently In 1 Week Lesson 3

Some Quick Steps to Learn English Grammar

Grammar can be pesky and annoying. It is not easy to learn because there are so many rules that simply do not make sense. For example, the pronunciations of ‘cat’ as ‘kat’ and ‘price’ as ‘prise’, does not make sense.

Grammar can be defined as a set of notions about the correct use of a language. English

Grammar is extensive. The words can be distinguished into nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions.

A little introduction into the basics of Grammar is important so that you understand how things work.

Nouns

In the simplest form, a noun is used to identify a name, place, animal or thing. It is also the largest English word class. Noun phrases are sentences that function as nouns. For example: The Eiffel Tower is in Paris.

Pronouns

Pronouns function in place of nouns and noun phrases. These include personal pronouns, interrogative pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, and relative pronouns. For example, I,

you, we, she, he, they are all pronouns. For example: They stabbed him in the back.

Verbs

Verbs describe actions. For example: She is singing. It is used for a word that describe any action being performed.

Adjective

An adjective describes an attribute of a word or phrase. For example: She is singing beautifully.

Adverb

An adverb is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb. For example: Seabiscuit was the fastest runner at the Derby.

Conjunctions

A conjunction is a word that is used to connect two sentences. It creates a logical relation between two phrases. For example, and, or, but, nor, as well as, neither, for, so etc. are called conjunctions.

Preposition

A preposition is a word that shows the relation of a noun or pronoun to other words in the sentence. For example: The book is in the shelf.

Speaking English is different from speaking correct English. For someone who has been speaking in English his or her entire life, Grammar comes naturally. I know a lot of people who can speak English and get their point across, but their Grammar is not that great. 

There are a few steps you can take to practice your Grammar skills

Understand the parts of speech

Learn all the parts of speech. Essentially, every word in a sentence can be categorized into a word class. When you are reading a book or the newspaper, try figuring out which words are the nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, pronouns, conjunctions, and prepositions.

Look for structures

Observe how people use their words and how books are written. There are certain structures that stay the same.

Identify mistakes

There are a lot of mistakes in the way English is spoken and written, even by native

English speakers. However, when learning a new language, some words may be
difficult for your native speakers. This differs from language to language. For example, Russians have trouble understanding the difference between the use of ‘a’ and ‘the’.

Exercises

Perform grammatical exercises. You could do this on the Internet or you could buy a children’s English schoolbook. Complete at least one exercise in a day. This is how children learn Grammar. There is no other way to do it.

Hire a tutor

It would be advisable for you go hire a tutor to guide you. Only a tutor can tell you that you are wrong and correct your mistakes. Colleagues and friend might not correct you for fear of embarrassing you or hurting your feelings.

Do not translate! 

Translating English to your native language or vise-versa will inevitably create
mistakes. Let you native language be and concentrate only on English. 

Translating generally spoils the Grammar of the sentence.

Listen

When you are listening, you are hearing correct Grammar. You could either listen to yourself while reading aloud or you could watch T.V.

“Do It Right Now”: Steps to Start Improving instantly

Step 1: Pick an English book or newspaper to read

Step 2: Keep a pen and paper with your. Preferably a small notebook specifically for components of Grammar

Step 3: While reading, go one paragraph at a time and note down the nouns, verbs, adjective and adverbs that you come across

Step 4:Try making your own sentences using these words

Step 5: Repeat the same process for the next paragraph 

Most Used English Vocabulary Imperative to Learn

English has an extensive vocabulary. It is loaded with homophones, homonyms, and homographs.

Homonyms – Words with same spellings and pronunciations but different meanings

Homophones – Words that sound similar but have different spellings and meaning

Homographs – Words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations and meanings

HOMOPHONES

1. Advise – Advise is a verb. For example: I advise you to bring bottled water.

Advice – Advice is a noun. For example: I need your advice.

2. Affect – Affect is a verb, which means, “to influence”. For example: The injury won’t affect her performance.

Effect – Effect is a noun, that means “the outcome or result”. When used as
a verb ‘effect’ means, “to produce a result”. For example: The song had a calming effect on the baby.

3. Allude – Allude is a verb, which meaning “calling attention to indirectly”.
It is a ‘coy’. For example: The paintings allude to Rembrandt.

Elude – Elude means to evade or get away from something. For example:
Michael Scofield eluded the cops.

4. Allusion – An allusion is an indirect or casual reference. For example: The
novel's title is an allusion to Shakespeare.

Illusion – An illusion is false idea or image. For example: The tension
between illusion and reality.

5. All – Used to refer to the whole quantity. For example: She left all her
jewelry to her daughter

Awl – A small pointed tool used for piercing holes. For example: He used an
awl to pierce the leather.

6. Amoral – Lacking a moral sense; unconcerned with the rightness or  wrongness of something. For example: a amoral attitude to gender discrimination

Immoral – Immoral means violating conscience or public morality. For example: an immoral and unwinnable war.

7. Ark – Noah’s ark OR a vessel that serves as protection against extinction. For example: A starship built by their android protectors

Arc – A curved shaped. For example: The huge arc of the sky

8. Bazaar – Bazaar is a market place. For example: Tony went to the bazaar to buy vegetables.

Bizarre – Bizarre, on the other hand, means something unusual and spooky. For example: The Bermuda Triangle incidents are bizarre.

9. Bridal – Bridal concerns a wedding or bride. For example: Bridal traditions will never go away

Bridle – A bridle is a horse harness or a rope. It could also mean to keep under control. For example: the fact that she was the servant bridled her
tongue.


10. Coign – an external corner of a wall. For example: ‘Coign of vantage’ is a phrase meaning a favorable position for observation or action

Coin – A flat, typically round piece of mental with an official stamp, used as
money OR to invent or device a new word or phrase. For example: He showed me how we could make a lot of coins OR he coined the term ‘desktop publishing’

11. Colonel – An army officer of high rank. For example: The jawans saluted
as the Colonel drove by Kernel – A softer, usually edible part of a nut OR the central of most important part of something. For example: This is the kernel of the argument.

12. Complement – A thing that completes or brings to perfection. For example: The libretto proved a perfect complement to the music Compliment – A polite expression of praise admiration. For example: The bride was complimented by many of her wedding day.

13. Doe – A female deer. For example: The safari saw a doe and her fawn Dough – A thick, malleable mixture of flour and liquid, used for baking OR lots of money. For example: The dog ate the cookie dough.

14. Elicit – Evoke or draw out. For example: A corrupt heart elicits in an hour all that is bad in us

Illicit – Forbidden by law, rules or customs. For example: Adolescents have started using illicit drugs.

15. Gorilla – A powerfully built great ape. For example: The gorilla’s were creating a ruckus in the jungle

Guerrilla – A member of a small independent group taking part in irregular fighting. For example: The guerrilla warfare was getting out of hand.

16. Immanent – Immanent means “pervading” or “existing within”. For example: The room’s immanent tension made her anxious.

Imminent – Imminent means “about to happen”. For example: The exam period is imminent.

Eminent – Eminent means “distinguished”. For example: He was an eminent
scholar.

17. Knead – Massage or squeeze with the hands. For example: The bakers
kneaded the dough

Need – Require something because it is essential or very important. For example: I don’t need your sarcasm.

18. Licence – licence is the noun. For example: One who is licensed to perform dental surgery has a dental surgeon’s licence.

License – license is the verb.

19. Nay – Or rather; more than that. For example: It will take months, nay
years

Neigh – A characteristic high-pitched sound uttered by a horse e.g. The horses
neighed in excitement on seeing their master.

20. Principle – A fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behaviour. For example: A man of principle

Principal – The first in order of importance. For example: The country’s principal cities.

21. Shear – Cut something (such as wool, hair, or grass) with scissors or shears. For example: I’ll shear off all the fleece

Sheer – Nothing other than; unmitigated. For example: She giggled with sheer
delight.

22. Stake - a strong wooden or metal post with a point at one end. For  example: They used stakes to support the trees

Steak – a slice of meat or fish, especially beef, cooked by broiling, frying, etc.. For example: He liked his steak rare.

23. Team – Two or more people working together. For example: He teamed up with the band to produce the album

Teem – Be full of or swarming with. For example: Every garden is teeming with wildlife

24. Toe – Any of the five digits at the end of a human foot; push, touch or kick
with one’s toe. For example He toed off his shoes and flexed his feet

Tow – Pull along with a rope or chain. For example: The car had to be towed once it stalled.

25. Vain – Conceited; producing no result. For example: A vain attempt to tidy up the room

Vane – Device for showing wind direction

Vein – A blood vessel; streak; crack. For example: He felt the adrenaline course through his veins.

26. We – Used to refer to the speaker together with other people regarded in
the same category. For example: Nobody knows kids better than we teachers
do

Wee – little; very small; very early. For example: In the wee hours of the morning.

27. Whine – A complaining tone of voice. For example: The whine of the engine

Wine – An alcoholic drink made of fermented grape juice. For example: He opened a bottle of red wine.

28. Wretch – An unfortunate or unhappy person; a despicable or contemptible
person e.g.: ungrateful wretches

Retch – Make a sound or movement of vomiting. For example: The poor child
retched during the flight

Homographs and Homonyms

There are also words such as homonyms and homographs. Homographs are words with different meanings and pronunciations but same spellings, while homonyms are words with different meanings but same spellings and pronunciations. 

Homographs are words such as read (reed) and read (red).

1. Bow – A weapon used for shooting arrows; a ribbon tied with two knots; bending your head to show respect to a king.

2. Wound – An injury; wrap around something.

3. Minute – Something small and tiny; a period of time.

4. Sow – Planting a seed in the ground; an adult female pig

5. Tear – Tears are what comes out of your eyes when you cry; ripping or breaking something

Some homonyms to look out for are:

1. Book – One could refer to the book you are reading, or to booking a seat at a restaurant or booking a ticket.

2. Peer – It could mean looking at something, or a person your own age.

3. Fair – A fair could be a place you go to have fun, or it would mean being just and reasonable.

“Do It Right Now”: Steps to Start Improving instantly

Step 1: Keep a pocket notebook with yourself all the time

Step 2: Concentrate on people’s speech

Step 3: Pick out words that have noticed as homophones, homonyms, and homographs

Step 4: Categorize these words in difference sections

Step 5: Find their different meanings and uses 

English Writing - Improvement Tricks and Tips

As I said earlier, a language has four components – Reading, listening, speaking and writing. Each of these components is complementary to each other. Once you know how to listen, read and speak English, it is time to finish the process by writing properly.

Writing is probably the easiest to do; however one can make mistakes in spellings.

Also, a person thinks and writes at different speeds and that could unintentionally ruin the sentence. Still, writing is not all that easy. Problems arise when it comes to punctuation marks.

Write, write, write!

Just like reading and expanding your vocabulary, writing properly involves a lot of practice. Pick a topic, and start writing. Do this exercise everyday. Make a portfolio of all your pieces and review them in a month and look for mistakes that you made. Once you are done, ask a friend to edit it for you.

Learn the correct version

Once you have figured out your mistakes, make it a point to learn the correct version.

Incorporate the corrected version in your next piece of writing exercise.

Avoid using a guide 

While you are practicing your writing skills, do not use a guide or dictionary. Make mistakes and then learn from those mistakes. If you do not make mistakes you will never learn. Once you know the mistakes you made, start writing again and try correcting those same mistakes.

Use new words and phrases

Make it a point to use at least two new words and phrases, as well as idioms, slang and colloquialisms in your article. Make sure you ask somebody to correct these if they are wrong.

Punctuation

The punctuation marks you use at the end of each sentence will set the tone of that particular sentence. Whether it is an exclamation (!) or a question (?) depends on how you frame your sentence.

“Do It Right Now”: Steps to Start Improving instantly 

Step 1: Pick a topic that interests you and are passionate about

Step 2: Start a blog based on the topic